Many young people used to cross back over drunk from a night of partying in Juarez at the downtown bridge.

"There are police officers who patrol the area every day now,as far as somebody being posted at the bridge, that's actually taking place mainly on the weekends," said Javier Sambrano of the El Paso Police Department.

Police said this extra patrolling along with a 7 p.m. curfew at the bridge for those under the age of 17 has helped to cut down on problems with teens and alcohol at the bridge.

"It doesn't only help to combat underage drinking, but it helps to combat some other kind of incident happening, whether it may be gang activity or something else," Sambrano said.

The police said they believe the red ribbons given out to designate drivers at the downtown bridge may also be helping to stop young people from drinking and driving.

The citizens advisory board gives out red ribbons once a month to designated sober drivers. The group is working with Juarez businesses, who will give free sodas to those wearing the ribbons.

Police and the citizen's advisory board said they also hope they are helping to save lives.

"If we are able to prevent that one person from going over there, getting into a car, and getting involved in a traffic collision, or a traffic fatality, than yeah, it is successful," Sambrano said.

El Paso Police said they are giving out fewer citations than before their enforcement program began and volunteers said they are handing out fewer wrist bands at the bridge, which both said they believe is proof the program is working.